Washing machine with fluid injection through openings in drum



y 1969 K. H. WOLVERTON ErAL 3,443,406

WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID INJECTION THROUGH OPENINGS IN DRUM Filed Feb. 28, 1967 Sheet of 2 CONTR o L ATTORNEYS May 13, 1969 WQLVERTON ET AL 3,443,406

WASHING MACHINE WITH FLUID INJECTION THROUGH OPENINGS IN DRUM Sheet 2 of? Filed Feb. 28, 1967 INVENTORS KEN/VED! //.k/04VERTON Roasnr H- /dR/VB/ICK 67312 8 Mom ATTORNEY FIGS United States Patent US. CI. 68-58 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A washing machine having a rotatable drum with comcal baflle plate thereon for a fluid, such as steam or water, from a stationary nozzle or feed pipe.

The present invention relates to washing machines of the type wherein a fluid such as steam or spray rinse water is injected into the rotating drum, and more particularly to an arrangement for introducing steam or spray rinse into the drum through a circular arrangement of openings in one end of the drum and positioned about the axis of rotation.

A common form of laundry device comprises a washing machine which has a drum rotatably mounted within a housing. The clothes or other laundry are placed in the drum and then passed through a suitable laundering process. Such a process essentially comprises washing and extracting liquid from the clothes or other laundry. In many laundry processes it is desirable to inject steam or spray rinse water into the drum. A conventional arrangement for injecting steam or spray rinse into the drum comprises piping the steam through a rotary joint into an axial bore drilled hole through the axis of the drum shaft and then passing the steam outwardly into the drum through radial holes.

In washing machines, a spray rinse frequently is used, water being sprayed onto the clothes in the drum.

It has been found that one drawback to this arrangement is the difiiculty of maintaining a fluid type rotary joint, particularly when high pressure steam is used and after the laundering machine has been in use for a long period of time.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved arrangement for injecting steam or spray rinse into the rotary drum of a washing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for introducing steam or spray rinse water into the rotary drum of a washing machine through a circular arrangement of openings formed in the closed end of the drum.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a washing machine having a drum rotatably mounted within a housing. The drum is essentially cylindrical and has a plurality of circularly arranged openings in its closed end. A conical bafile sheet is then mounted on the outer surface of the closed end and inclined inwardly from the end so as to form a trough adjacent the openings. A steam nozzle which is connected to a source of steam under pressure is directed into the trough formed by the inclined baffie sheet, whereby the steam is introduced into the drum through the plurality of openings.

The nozzle may be inclined from a radial direction to one which is in the direction of rotation of the drum and may also be at an angle with respect to the closed end of the drum.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the following descripice tion taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a washing machine with a portion of the housing removed to show the manner in which steam is introduced into the drum, the control circuit for the washing machine being shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view from FIG. 1 showing the steam nozzle as positioned with respect to the inclined baffle and the steam openings; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of the drum showing the manner in which the steam is introduced into the drum through the openings.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the washing machine of this invention is indicated generally at 1 and comprises a housing 2 which is mounted upon a supporting base 3 positioned on a concrete floor or foundation 4. A drain trough 5 is provided in the floor 4 into which washing liquid is discharged from the washing machine.

Mounted within the housing 2 is a cylindrical drum 6 supported on a shaft 7 journaled in bearings 8 and 9 mounted on the housing 2 of the washing machine. Valve means 10 is mounted on the housing for furnishing liquid supplies of hot, cold or a mixture of hot and cold water into the housing.

Drum 6 is driven by motor drive means 11 through belt 12 and pulley 13. Motor drive means 11 may be a multi-speed motor or may be an arrangement having low and high speed motors (not shown) operable through clutch means as is known in the art. Also, the drum could be driven through any suitable variable drive mechanism.

The bottom of the housing 2 is provided with a double valve 14 to discharge water or liquid from the housing into trough or passage 5. The dump valve may be of any suitable type such as that shown in US. Patent No. 2,443,816.

If desired, an exhaust fan arrangement 15 can be mounted on the top of the housing, the fan having a motor 16.

While not shown in the drawings, suitable doors are provided in the housing 2 to permit access to the rotatable drum 6.

A control means, such as that described in US. Patent No. 2,841,176 and illustrated schematically in box 17, can be employed to activate the various control elements in their proper sequence.

The steam is introduced into the drum 6 through a plurality of openings or apertures 18 formed in the closed end 19 of the cylindrical drum. The apertures 18 are relatively small and are arranged in a circle concentric to the shaft 7 upon which the drum is supported.

On the outer surface of drum end 19, there is provided an inclined baffie plate 20 (FIG. 4) which extends over the openings 18. The baffle plate 20 is also circular and defines a trough into which steam is introduced through a steam nozzle 21 and connected to a source of steam or water under pressure through line 22. Steam nozzle 21 (FIGS. 3, 4) is inclined from a radial direction in the direction of rotation of the drum with the direction of rotation being indicated by arrow 23. Also, the nozzle 21 is inclined with respect to drum closed end 19, as can be seen in FIG. 4.

Extending diametrically across the drum is a bafile 24 having a rectangular housing 25 enclosing drum shaft 7 and separating the drum into two parts.

During operation of the washing machine when it is desired to introduce steam or spray rinse water into the drum, the steam or water control valve 26 is actuated in the proper sequence by the timer mechanism in control box 17. Steam or water is then injected into the trough formed by the inclined bafile plate 20 and then admitted through openings 18 into the drum in the manner as seen in FIG. 5. The jets of steam as indicated at 27 will have a rotary movement induced by the action of the steam jetting under high pressure against the inclined bafile plate 20 which, being attached to the drum, is also rotating. It has been found that the introduction of steam through a plurality of spaced openings such as disclosed herein provides for a more uniform distribution of the steam throughout the drum and thereby improves the efliciency of the washing operation.

The control box 17 may consist of a plurality of cam operated switches actuated by-a program control means. There may be also provided a timing motor to rotate a cam shaft on which are fixed cams for actuating switches in order to sequentially energize and de-energize the various controlled elements so as to perform the desired cycle of operation.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides an improved arrangement for more effectively introducing steam into the rotating drum of a washing machine. By introducing steam at the end of a drum around the axis of rotation and through a plurality of openings, a more uniform distribution of steam is obtained within the drum. Further, the present invention eliminates the necessity for rotary fluid type joints required when the steam was heretofore introduced through the supporting shaft of the rotating drum. It also shortens the length of the machine and decreases cost of boring the shaft when a shaft with a central hole was employed.

It should be apparent that details of construction can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a housing, a drum rotatably mounted within said housing and having a closed end, there being a plurality of circularly arranged openings in said closed end, circular bafile plate trough means on the outer surface of said drum closed end and inclined outwardly from said end toward the center of said drum, said trough means enclosing and extending over said openings, and a nozzle connected to a source of fluid under pressure, said nozzle being directed into said trough at an angle to said closed end and inclined from a radial direction in the direction of rotation of said drum whereby fluid is introduced to said drum through said openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,053,932 9/1936 Zimarik. 2,066,998 1/1937 Nash et al. 6858 FOREIGN PATENTS 776,114 6/1957 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application 1,093,316 (1960).

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 68-5, 207 

